Cotton-compressor



-(No Model.)

Witweoaad 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. J. WEBB.

COTTON COMPRESSOR.

Patented Nov. 26, 1895.

ANDREW BIRAKAM. PHOTOLFIWQWASHINFI'OMQO j 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. J. WEBB. COTTON COMPRESSOR.

. (No ModeL) Patented Nov. 26, 1895.

ANDREW. BJSRAI'IAM. PHOTOUTHQ WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL J. WEBB, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA,

COTTON-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,358, dated November 26, 1895. Application filed February 16, 1893. Serial No. 462,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. WEBB, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Shreveport, Oaddo parish, Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to compressing devices or presses, and while the construction shown and described is intended more especially for use in connection with compressing cottonbales and the like, it is evident that the general principles of the construction can be applied to other and various kinds of presses.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective apparatus,whereby the material pressed can be subjected to heavy pressure, and the operation shall be rapid and conducted in a manner to best compress the material with uniformity, and my. invention consists in the various features of construction, arrangement, and mode of operation, substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the compressor, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at right angles 'to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 a vertical section, of the valve device.

Not only is it desirable in a compressor of this character to make the parts strong and effective, but it is also desirable to save time in operation, and to do this it is found best to operate the compressing device at the beginning of the stroke at a rapid rate, as at this time, especially when cotton and the like is being compressed, there is less resistance to the compressing action and the devices can move faster under the same power, and when they are partially compressed it is found better to reverse this order of movement and cause the pressure to be exerted'more slowly, but with greater effect. Moreover, it is desirable to provide means whereby the power may be adjusted according to the resistance of the material being pressed throughout the stroke and as well to press the articles, so

that they shall have a substantially uniform density.

With these general objects in view I will now describe the means illustrated whereby they may be carried out.

I have shown the upper platen A of the press as being stationary and mounted in or forming part of the main frame and supported in any suitable way, as by the posts B, four being shown in the present instance, and these posts are provided at their lower ends with suitable bases B,strengthened by flanges B and are secured to the foundation 0. The platen or frame A also extends upward to form a support A for the cylinder of the mo- I tor, and while I have shown these parts made integral, as I prefer, they can, of course, be made in separate pieces properly joined.

I prefer to operate my compress by steam, although other motor fluid may be used, and I have shown the steam-cylinder E, secured on top of the frame, the top A of the frame being shaped to form the bottom of the cylinder, and moving in this cylinder is the piston F, carrying the piston-rod G, and this rod is preferably provided with guides X X, secured to the platen or frame.

The lower or moving platen J is mounted on the lower end of the rods K, which are pivotally connected therewith, as by the pins M. Mounted on the upper platen or frame in any suitable position arethe compound toggles or bell-cranks, and I have shown them pivotally secured to the frames by the pins I. These compound toggles are composed of the three arms or bars H, 11 H preferably of the same length, forming a substantial triangular frame, and each toggle is connected to two of the rods K, as by a pin L. The lower portions of the compound toggles are connected by suitable links N to the head of the piston and these connections are pivotal, the pins 0 and P being shown as a convenient and preferred means of making the connection.

The steam-cylinder or the cylinder bottom is provided with an inlet and outlet port, as Q, which is controlled preferably by two valves R and S, and these valves may be operated in any suitable Way, as by lever T, mounted on the shaft U, connected to the valve-casing. This shaft is provided with lifting-cams V, one for each valve, and they are shown as extendin gin opposite directions, so that the valves maybe opened or closed independently of each other. The cylinder is provided with a stuffing-box W to prevent leakage, and the moving platen J is provided with slid es Y, (shown as attached to the end of the pin M,) which slide upon the posts 13 to guide and control the movement of the lower platen.

In order to form a cushion for the piston F I interpose between the valve S and the cylinder a globe-valve A, the valve-stem a of which is connected to a lever B, pivotally mounted in a suitable support connected to the cylinder. Extending from the other end of this lever is a rod 0, the end of which projects more or less above the cylinder-head. Normally the weight of the valve-stem will keep the valve open; but as the piston reaches its lowermost position it impinges upon the rod C, closing the valve A and causing the stem to form a cushion to arrest the piston without shock or jar. Such being the construction of the device in general terms, its operation will be understood, and when steam or other fluid is admitted to the cylinder the piston and red are driven upward and these through the medium of the links and compound toggles move the rods K and raise the lower platen J.

It will be seen from the arrangement shown, the parts being normally in the position indicated in Fig. 1, at the beginning of the stroke the pins 0 move outward on the dotted lines o, forcing the pins L upward in the path of the dotted lines Z, and the consequence is that the pins L will move upward faster than the piston. At the beginning of the stroke the toggles are in the position to exert the least pressure on the moving platen; but the relative distance the platen is moved compared to the piston is greater, and if, for instance, a bale of cotton is being pressed, the first part of the pressure can be quickly effected with the least expenditure of force. As the piston approaches the end of its stroke these relative movements are reversed and the piston moves faster than the pins L and the platen connected therewith. Moreover, in this position, as indicated by the dotted lines, it will be seen that the compound toggles are in the position to exert their greatest pressure on the pins L, and that the pins L are in a position to move much slower than the pins 0, connecting the toggles and links, so that a greater leverage is applied to the pins and the bale can be subjected to an exceedingly great pressure. Another important advantage arises from this arrangement, as it will be seen that after the pin 0 reaches substantially the point normally occupied by the pin L the further movement of said pins L is substantially uniform and the power remains about the same until the stroke is completed, and by this means I am enabled to press every bale to substantially the same density, regardless of its thickness, the material in each bale being subjected to the required pressure until it has acquired the proper density, when it can be secured by suitable means and the piston reversed and the bale discharged. It will be seen that by this simple arrangement I am enabled to accomplish the desired results without the use of the complicated machinery usually adapted to adjust the upper or stationary platen to suit bales of different thicknesses.

From the above it will be seen that by a very simple and compact arrangement of clevices I am enabled to secure not only the requisite amount of pressure to compress a bale of cotton or other material, but I can apply the pressure in the most advantageous way, not only to uniformly compress the material, but to save time and expense, and the parts are simple in structure and can be readily manufactured, being principally made of bars, except, of course, the framework, and I have found the device well adapted for the purposes intended.

WVhile I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is evident that the details of construction and arrangement may be varied by those skilled in the art to suit the requirements of any particular case without departing from the general features of my invention, and I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown.

WVhat I claim is 1. The combination with the main frame and stationary platen, of the movable platen, the compound toggles, each consisting of the three sides in triangular form, pivotally mounted on the frame, the piston rod and links connecting the toggles with the piston red, the links being normally in substantially a right line with the inner sides of the toggles and rods connecting the platen with the toggles at a point 011 a line between the pivotal point of the toggles and the point of connection with the links, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the main frame, a piston and piston rod, and a stationary platen, of the movable platen, the triangular compound toggles pivoted to the frame at their upper inner angles, rods connected to the movable platen and to the toggles at their outer angles, and links pivoted at one end to the lower angle of the toggle and connected at their other end to an engine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL J. WEBB. Witnesses E. J. Nmvn, N. M. WANNER. 

